The Washington Post recently posed that question. There are similarities between Vermont Senator Bernie and former Congressman Ron Paul, even though they are polar opposites when it comes to the role of the State.

Neither of them garner support from the Party establishment. Like Paul, Sanders will be able to educate the public about issues, like the dangers of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and crony capitalism. He will expose the flawed U.S. foreign policy and the need to “break up” big banks. Both Paul and Sanders are able to fire up the grassroots purists who believe in the fundamentals of the Party platform.

Sanders is not that much left of the Democrat party platform as the mainstream media would have Americans believe. Sanders is advocating for policies that, in his view, would help average Americans, and stop giving political favors to Wall Street and the 1 percent. Kind of sounds like Ron Paul, doesn’t it?

But this is where they part ways philosophically.

Sanders wants to raise the minimum wage, have policies that would force companies to give equal pay to women and minorities, and make college affordable, to name a few.

These are the same issues that Senator Elizabeth Warren advocates for, but the media doesn’t paint her as a devout “socialist” from the left.

Sanders is a very welcome addition to the 2016 presidential race because he can fire up the base and force Hillary Clinton to talk about real issues, instead of succumbing to phony politics-as-usual campaign rhetoric. He will force a more honest debate, if that’s humanly possible for politicians running for president.

“BERNIE SANDERS COULD ESSENTIALLY BE THE DEMOCRAT’S RON PAUL — A CANDIDATE THAT COULDN’T WIN, BUT WAS ABLE TO EDUCATE AND INFORM VOTERS.”

Though Sanders is advocating socialism, which is rooted in the Democrat platform, he does make really great points – ones that liberty-minded and independent voters should welcome in the national debate: Stop NSA spying, break up “Big Banks” and no more bailouts, and stop the endless wars.